Stator for an electric machine with improved cooling, electric machine and motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A stator ( 1 ) for an electric machine ( 100 ) has stator laminations ( 3 ) stacked in an axial direction (A) to form a stator lamination stack ( 2 ). The stator laminations ( 3 ) have strip-shaped inserts ( 4 ) extending in a radial direction (R). The inserts ( 4 ) have a higher thermal conductivity than the rest of the stator lamination ( 3 ). The stator laminations ( 3 ) are rotated in relation to one another in an azimuthal direction (U) about an angle of rotation (D) in such a manner that the inserts ( 4 ) of directly adjacent stator laminations ( 3 ) are not arranged one above another in the axial direction (A). An electric machine ( 100 ), a motor vehicle ( 200 ) and a method for producing a stator ( 1 ) also are provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to German Patent Appl.No. 10 2019 120 944.7 filed on Aug. 2, 2019, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a stator for an electric machine, an electricmachine, a motor vehicle and a method for producing a stator.

Related Art

The power of electric machines generally is limited by the thermallimits thereof. The focus here is on the stator. The electric lines ofthe stator conventionally generate most of the heat because of ohmicresistances. These electric lines and the stator iron of the statorlamination stack become the power-limiting component of an electricmachine because of magnetization and Eddy current losses. In addition tothe heat compatibility of the installed components, cooling plays acrucial part. Cooling elements arranged on the outside of the stator areused widely to dissipate heat. However, the heat has to be guided by thestator yoke to the outside to the cooling elements.

Silicon steel, often simply called stator iron, customarily is used forproducing the stator yoke. Cobalt and nickel alloys are used more rarelyfor the stator yoke. The thermal conduction of the stator iron from thestator grooves to the cooling elements is limited greatly because of thelow thermal conductivity of the materials used. A thinner stator yoke,i.e. a smaller stator outside diameter, would be thermally advantageous,but causes significant disadvantages in respect of the magnetic fluxthrough the stator. Too thin a stator yoke would be neutralized and themagnetic flux would not be maintained.

EP 2 793 375 B1 discloses a stator for an electric machine where thestator has thermal conductors to increase the thermal conductivity ofthe stator yoke. The thermal conductors improve the transport of heatfrom the interior of the stator to the outer side of the stator.However, a problem in this connection is that thermal conductorstypically do not have good magnetic conductivity and therefore obstructthe magnetic flux in the stator. The consequence is high power losses.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a stator that doesnot have the above-described disadvantages of the prior art, but ratherpermits very good thermal conduction through the stator yoke from theinterior of the stator toward the outer side of the stator and at thesame time minimizes an obstruction of the magnetic flux in the stator.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a stator for an electric machine. The statorhas stator laminations stacked in an axial direction to form a statorlamination stack. The stator laminations have strip-shaped insertsextending in a radial direction. The inserts have a higher thermalconductivity than the rest of the stator lamination. The statorlaminations are rotated in relation to one another in an azimuthaldirection about an angle of rotation so that the inserts of directlyadjacent stator laminations are not arranged one above another in theaxial direction.

According to the invention, the magnetic flux flowing in the azimuthaldirection is not obstructed by the inserts, but rather is able to changeto an adjacent stator lamination at the location where an insert isarranged. Thus, the magnetic flux can flow in a type of slalom withminimal obstruction in the azimuthal direction through the stator.

The individual stator laminations may be identical. This is expedientsince tools for producing the stator laminations are expensive, andtherefore cost savings are is possible by standardizing the componentsof the stator.

The stator laminations of the stator disclosed herein are stacked in amanner rotated in relation to one another so that the inserts ofdirectly adjacent stator laminations do not lie directly above oneanother. Thus, a second stator lamination is centered on a first statorlamination but is rotated about an angle of rotation in the azimuthaldirection. A third stator lamination is centered on the second statorlamination but is rotated about the angle of rotation in the azimuthaldirection. This is repeated until all of the stator laminations arestacked to form the stator lamination stack. Within the context of thepresent invention, the azimuthal direction describes the circumferentialdirection of the stator. The rotation in the azimuthal direction istherefore a rotation within the main plane of extent of the statorlamination about the geometric center point of the stator lamination.Within the context of the present invention, all of the angles mentionedare understood as angles within the main plane of extent of the statorlamination. It is conceivable for a stator lamination to have 10 ormore, preferably 15 or more, particularly preferably 20 or more inserts.

According to one embodiment, a length of the inserts in the radialdirection is at least four times a width of the inserts in the azimuthaldirection. This permits a very well directed and powerful thermalconduction from the interior of the stator toward the outer sidethereof.

According to a further embodiment, a thickness of the inserts in theaxial direction corresponds to a thickness of the stator laminations inthe axial direction. This improves the thermal conduction and permitstight packing of the stator lamination stack. It is conceivable for thethickness of the stator laminations to be between 100 μm and 1 mm,preferably between 200 μm and 400 μm.

The stator laminations may have at least two, preferably four, recesseson their outer side, and the recesses are distributed uniformly in theazimuthal direction. The stator laminations are rotated in relation toone another in the azimuthal direction so that the recesses of all ofthe stator laminations are one above another in the axial direction. Therecesses of the stator laminations thus produce registration recessesarranged in the axial direction over the length of the stator forsecuring the stator.

The stator laminations have n recesses arranged so that n−1 statorlaminations are between two stator laminations having insert partsarranged above one another in the axial direction, and the statorpreferably does not have inserts that are arranged above one another inthe axial direction with the inserts of the two stator laminations. Thismakes it is possible in an advantageous manner for the statorlaminations to be rotated so that the registration recesses arecontinuous in the axial direction and at the same time the distancebetween two inserts lying one above another in the axial direction is atmaximum, which further reduces a disturbance to the magnetic flux. Inthe case of n recesses, the angle of rotation therefore is α=360°/n.

According to some embodiments, the inserts are not distributed uniformlyin the azimuthal direction. This permits an advantageously wide andskillful spacing of the inserts.

The inserts may be arranged in the azimuthal direction in groups of atleast two inserts. The inserts of a group are spaced apart from oneanother in the azimuthal direction by an azimuthal angle, and the groupsmay be spaced apart from one another in the azimuthal direction by groupangles. The azimuthal angles of all of the groups of this embodiment areidentical.

The azimuthal angle and the group angles may differ from one another,and the group angles preferably differ from one another.

The inserts may be made at least partially from aluminum and/or copper.These materials have good thermal conductivity and can be rolledexcellently in in the form of inserts.

The inserts may have an electrically insulating coating, such as anelectrically insulating varnish, to reduce disturbance in the magneticflux.

An outer side of the stator may have a cooling element, such as acooling jacket and/or cooling ribs to permit effective dissipation ofthe heat in the outer side of the stator. The cooling element may beproduced least partially produced from aluminum. It is conceivable forthe cooling element to be shrunk thereon.

The invention also relates to an electric machine having theabove-described stator.

The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having such an electricmachine.

The invention also relates to a method for producing the above-describedstator, including punching a metal sheet to form a preliminary statorlamination part having slots, punching the inserts, rolling the insertsinto the slots, and stacking the preliminary stator lamination partswith rolled-in inserts as stator laminations in a manner rotated inrelation to one another and then packaging.

All of the details, features and advantages disclosed above relateequally to the stator, the electric machine, the motor vehicle and tothe method according to the invention.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will emergefrom the drawings and from the description below of preferredembodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings here illustratemerely exemplary embodiments of the invention that do not limit theinventive concept.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 (a) and (b) are schematic illustrations of a stator according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 (a) to (d) are schematic illustrations in each case of a statorlamination of a stator according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a section through a statoraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 (a) and (b) are each schematic illustrations of a stator 1according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with astator lamination stack 2. The stator lamination stack 2 has statorlaminations 3 which are stacked on one another in the axial direction Aand are welded to one another. During the operation of the stator 1,heat arises primarily in the interior of the stator 2. A cooling jacket,not illustrated, composed of aluminum is shrunk onto the outer side ofthe stator 1. Cooling liquid flows through the cooling jacket and coolsthe outer side of the stator lamination stack 2. The cooling jacket issecured at the four registration recesses 5 distributed uniformly in theazimuthal direction. In order to improve thermal conduction from theinterior of the stator lamination stack 2 toward the outer side of thestator lamination stack 2, the stator laminations 3 have strip-shapedinserts 4 arranged in the radial direction R. The inserts 4 aremanufactured from a material having good thermal conductivity, forexample copper or aluminum. The radiant arrangement of the inserts 4which readily conduct heat makes it possible for the heat to be readilyguided from the interior toward the cooling jacket.

Materials having good thermal conductivity frequently have poorconductivity for the magnetic flux (see identifier F in FIG. 3).Although the inserts 4 are therefore advantageous for the thermalconductivity, they obstruct the magnetic flux in the azimuthal directionU during operation of the stator.

In order to reduce this obstruction, the stator laminations are rotatedin relation to one another about an angle of rotation D in the azimuthaldirection U. This cannot be seen for illustrative reasons in FIG. 1, butis illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the inserts 4 arearranged in groups 6 of in each case four inserts 4. Within each group6, the inserts 4 are spaced apart from one another in the azimuthaldirection U by the azimuthal angle φ. The azimuthal angle φ is identicalin size in all of the groups 6. The groups 6 are in turn spaced apartfrom one another in the azimuthal direction U by the group angle φG. Thegroup angles φG between the different groups 6 differ in size.

FIGS. 2 (a) to (d) are schematic illustrations in each case of a statorlamination 3 of a stator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. For better visibility, the details of the statorlaminations 3 are not designated specifically here. Stator laminations 3of a stator 1 according to one of the exemplary embodiments from FIG. 1are illustrated. FIGS. 2 (a) to (d) show four stator laminations 3 whichare each rotated about the angle of rotation D in the azimuthaldirection U. The stator laminations 3 each have four registrationrecesses. So that the registration recesses in the stator laminations 3stacked above one another as the stator lamination stack lie above oneanother in the axial direction, the stator laminations 3 are rotatedwith respect to one another about the angle of rotation D=360°/4=90°. Itis therefore possible in an advantageous manner with identical, butrotated stator laminations 3 to permit good thermal conduction from theinterior of the stator to the outer side thereof and nevertheless not toobstruct the magnetic flux by inserts arranged in the manner of barriersand poorly conducting the magnetic flux.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a section through a stator 1according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thestator laminations 3 which are stacked above another in the axialdirection A and are rotated in relation to one another in the azimuthaldirection can be seen. For the sake of clarity, only three statorlaminations 3 are designated here. The inserts 4, only four inserts 4are designated for the sake of visibility, do not lie above one anotherin the axial direction A in the manner of barriers, but rather areoffset in the form of a staircase. This makes it possible for themagnetic flux F to flow relatively undisturbed by the fact that it canchange to an adjacent stator lamination 3 in order to bypass the inserts4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 200 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention with an electricmachine 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The electric machine 100 has a stator, not shown anddesignated specifically here, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stator for an electric machine, having aplurality of stator laminations stacked in an axial direction to form astator lamination stack, the stator laminations having a plurality ofstrip-shaped inserts extending in a radial direction, the inserts havinga higher thermal conductivity than the rest of the stator lamination,wherein the stator laminations are rotated in relation to one another inan azimuthal direction about an angle of rotation in such a manner thatthe inserts of directly adjacent stator laminations are not arranged oneabove another in the axial direction.
 2. The stator of claim 1, whereina length of the inserts in the radial direction is at least four times awidth of the inserts in the azimuthal direction.
 3. The stator of claim1, wherein a thickness of the inserts in the axial direction correspondsto a thickness of the stator laminations in the axial direction.
 4. Thestator of claim 1, wherein the stator laminations have at least tworecesses on their outer side, the recesses being distributed uniformlyin the azimuthal direction, wherein the stator laminations are rotatedin relation to one another in the azimuthal direction in such a mannerthat the recesses of all of the stator laminations are arranged oneabove another in the axial direction.
 5. The stator of claim 4, whereinthe stator laminations have n recesses, the recesses and the inserts arearranged so that n−1 stator laminations are arranged between two statorlaminations having insert parts arranged above one another in the axialdirection, and, in the axial direction between the two statorlaminations, the stator does not have inserts arranged above one anotherin the axial direction with the inserts of the two stator laminations.6. The stator of claim 1, wherein the inserts are not distributeduniformly in the azimuthal direction.
 7. The stator of claim 6, whereinthe inserts are arranged in the azimuthal direction in groups of atleast two inserts, the inserts of a group are spaced apart from oneanother in the azimuthal direction by an azimuthal angle, and the groupsare spaced apart from one another in the azimuthal direction by groupangles, wherein the azimuthal angles of all of the groups are identical.8. The stator of claim 7, wherein the azimuthal angle and the groupangles differ from one another, and the group angles and differ from oneanother.
 9. The stator of claim 1, wherein the inserts are manufacturedat least partially from aluminum and/or copper.
 10. The stator of claim1, wherein the inserts have an electrically insulating coating.
 11. Thestator of claim 1, wherein the stator has a cooling element on its outerside.
 12. An electric machine having the stator of claim
 1. 13. A motorvehicle having the electric machine of claim
 12. 14. A method forproducing the stator of claim 1, comprising punching a metal sheet toform a preliminary stator lamination part having slots, punching theinserts, rolling the inserts into the slots, stacking the preliminarystator lamination parts with rolled-in insert parts to form statorlaminations rotated in relation to one another and packaging the statorlaminations.